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Kitchen Trends for 2013

Kitchens continue to be the hub of the home, and increasingly designers are opening them to other living areas. In renovations and new construction we’re seeing few walls between kitchens, dining areas, and family rooms, so family members may easily interact with each other and entertain at home. In this Chicago-area home, designer Mick De Giulio positioned an island so those working there can see into the dining area and family room.

Kitchens are gaining square footage and commanding a greater percentage of a home’s footprint. This dominance and openness of the kitchen to the rest of the house, as well as the increased tendency to entertain guests in the kitchen, has boosted design and furniture styling, with integrated appliances (refrigerator, freezer and refrigerator drawers, dishwashers, trash and recycling centers behind cabinet doors).

Islands often feature furniture styling. New Jersey designer Jim Dove embellished an island for the Mansion in May showhouse with paneled sides, tapered steel feet, and a mirrored toe kick for a modern twist on traditional.

Eat-in kitchens are another trend, with more homes including generously sized casual dining areas within or near kitchen space. Upholstered settees face an oval pedestal table in this Boston area kitchen designed by Liz Caan.

Large tables paired with benches, upholstered chairs, and settees are ideal for family meals and for informal entertaining.
Atlanta designer Lori Tippin says her children love sitting on the antique bench in her kitchen.

The “living room” effect also has given rise to the introduction of more textures and design elements into the kitchen. Rather than a run of a single countertop material, designers are mixing things ups, with stainless steel by the stove or sinks, wood/butcher block, mosaic glass on a small chest, and different colors and types of stones within the same space.

A desire for less clutter in the kitchen has driven an interest in having plenty of storage and places to conceal countertop appliances. Motorized doors in the Siematic countertops close over small appliances.

Other glitzy features that add sparkle to a traditional kitchen include antiqued mirrors and polished copper on backsplashes, cabinet door and refrigerator fronts, and even mirrored toe kicks (they reflect the floor).

In new home construction and renovations, more and larger windows are being installed in today’s kitchens. Often windows flank the range and extend from countertops to ceiling, as in this Chicago kitchen by Mick De Giulio. French doors that connect the kitchen to a patio or deck are extremely popular, too.